A group of friends plays bocce ball, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ping pong. (Todd Spoth/For the Chronicle) less

A group of friends plays bocce ball, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ... more

A group of friends plays bocce ball, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ping pong. (Todd Spoth/For the Chronicle) less

A group of friends plays bocce ball, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ... more

A waiter drivers a tray of drinks, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ping pong. (Todd Spoth/For the Chronicle) less

A waiter drivers a tray of drinks, Friday, January 11, 2013 at Brooklyn Athletic Club in Houston, Texas. The newly opened bar features a host of outdoor activities such as croquet, bocce ball, badminton and ... more